Retrospective Review of the Providences of God in Relation to the Saints—The Wrath and Schemes of Men Turned to the Advantage of God's People—The Order of God's Church Perfect—The Wicked Disturbed By Judgments While the Righteous Enjoy Peace—The Administration of the Law of God in Relation to Offences—Should Be Resigned to the Will of God in All Things

The Lord be thanked and praised for granting us another so favorable
opportunity of meeting together to contemplate the interests of His
Kingdom, and our soul's salvation at this Conference. “Day unto day
uttereth speech,” said the ancient man of God, “and night unto night
showeth knowledge.” We can say, that week after week, and month after
month, since our last Conference, we have had renewed occasion for
thanksgiving and praise to Him for the many blessings which He has
vouchsafed unto His people.

If we take a retrospective view of His providences to us as a people,
especially during the period of our sojourn in these mountains, we
shall find that circumstances have occurred at very short intervals
which have kept the people continually awakened to a sense of their
liberties, and to a watch care for them, measuring and weighing and
noticing the efforts that have been made from time to time to take
away our privileges and liberties, and such blessings as were thought
could be taken from us which we had entered into the enjoyment of,
since our location in these mountain fastnesses. Step by step every
such instance has been attended, if not with all that gift and
abundance of favor and mercy which we might have desired, and which
might not have been best for us, yet with sufficient blessing to
manifest the kind care of our Heavenly Father continually and
unceasingly over us.

When we came here and first made our laws, realizing that we were far
away from the mass of the people of the States, both east and west of
us, we found it was with great difficulty that we could avail
ourselves of the few blessings which government seemed to tender to
us. We could not even obtain the presence of federal officials in our
midst regularly, as was designed by government, and as was needed by
the people. Consequently, our isolation required our Legislature to
confer unusual powers upon our local courts; but it was not long
before the effort was made, and final success was had in taking from
our local courts the civil and criminal
jurisdiction. Time
will not allow me to enter into minute details. Therefore, suffice it
to say, that mission judges have come here fully determined to convert
us from the error of our ways, as it appeared to them, to the “purity,
refinement and civilization” of the world! After laboring and toiling
some years in our midst, finding their decisions frequently overthrown
by the decisions of the Superior Court at Washington, and our Prophet,
who had been illegally imprisoned, released from his confinement, one
thing after another upset their plans and devices; so that the great
changes which had been hoped to be brought about among us to make us
like the people of the world, signally failed, and the end of that
effort was that the poor, miserable man who undertook the job, was
carried home in his coffin.

I must notice one or two other important facts which have stood out
very prominently before us, and they were, that this people who were
not of the world, and had no fellowship or love with the world, must
be restricted in their civil rights and military duties, for fear that
they should do some mischief on a holiday, therefore they were
forbidden by Gubernatorial Proclamation to order out a company of
infantry or cavalry to help to celebrate the Fourth of July, as they
and their fathers were wont to do from time immemorial.

One after another these and similar efforts have been made to take our
liberties and privileges away from us, that we might be brought into
some sort of contemptible subjection, it would appear. But without
stopping to animadvert upon the folly and nonsense of such a
procedure, let me inquire what was the result? What followed the
procla-mation that we should not do military duty as a people, or
protect ourselves even from the surrounding savages? Immediately when
this occurred, it seemed as if the very heavens were moved in our
behalf, all the tribes around us became divested, seemingly, of what
hostility they had possessed, and ever since that occurred we have had
the most substantial peace and quiet all around us among the natives.
How kind of Providence it was to so completely remove the enmity of
the natives when this circumstance transpired. We are relieved from
the unpleasant tax of military duty, and even our adversaries are made
to be at peace with us. What a logic of fact for a contentious world
to read.

During the past year, the great efforts that have been made have
seemed to prove abortive; special efforts and measures have appeared
to miscarry; and we have had a law right from the Capitol, that seemed
as if it must tell on the “Mormons.” A class of our people have been
temporarily divested of the right of suffrage; men and women, who may
have violated some law, and many who have never violated any law of
Congress, have been deprived of their political rights. But with all
this, we still seem to live and thrive and prosper faster than we have
ever done before. The very step itself will prove a great blessing to
this people by separating a portion of those who have not the highest
respect and veneration for all the laws of God, and enabling those who
have, to be the wiser counselors and more efficient aids in advancing
the interests of the Kingdom in the hands of those who may be more
acceptable in the eyes of government to wield administration here
locally.

But it is a singular fact, a singular
circumstance, that a man
should come here from the heart of the nation—clothed, as was
supposed, with every qualification to be a Governor of Utah, and then
act as he has acted. He had been through the army in the late
rebellion. He was a man capable, as was supposed, of understanding
what was right and proper as between the nation and any other part of
the country that might seem to feel in any wise oppressed or limited,
and who would administer constitutional rights and executive powers
with ability and with skill. He came here clothed with the supreme
beauty of the State from whence he came. This man by his excessive
propensity for figures, as we all know, made some very strange
calculations; and then when one thing didn't work another seemed to,
until our representative in Congress was removed. But by and by we are
blessed with another one in Congress to represent us there. And in a
short time we found that, with the special effort that was being made
in Washington in our behalf, such a shadow of doubt was cast over a
certain portion of the law, entitled the Hoar amendment, when it was
thought advisable by the Governor to execute some three hundred
commissions, more or less, to men whom he appointed to fill supposed
vacancies in this Territory, which if carried out would have turned
over the local authority of the Territory into the hands of the avowed
enemies of this people, but the supposed vacancies did not exist and
the offices continued in the hands of the incumbents. After all, an
election was held during the past season, when these offices were
filled by the people's candidates. Thus we have occasion again to
rejoice that notwithstanding another desperate effort has been made to
take away the rule from the hands of the people, and put it into the
hands of their enemies, and make us an outside Territory, subject to
their oppressions, subject to all manner of taxation that they might
please to impose upon us—we find that the voice and vote of the people
are still triumphant, that their candidates have gone into office, and
are commissioned, the selections having been made from among those
whose rights and privileges have been maintained unto them.

It is a singular feature in this matter, that the Governor has taken
it into his head to leave the Territory, just at the time when it was
supposed he would be required to execute these commissions. But
without going into particulars, persons of ordinary discernment
observe that the course he has taken is such that he cannot himself
cheek it to remain and issue the commissions to the properly elected
persons to rule in this Territory; indeed it looks as though the
dishonorable, undignified course he has taken is just what has driven
him from the Territory, to leave his duty and let the secretary be
acting governor. When men come here full of determination to show
their bravery, their ability, smartness and competency, beyond their
predecessors, to capture Utah, and turn her over to the hands of the
ungodly; it appears that everyone who has made such an attempt has
met with very signal defeat. When a man defeats himself as perfectly
as this last one has, I think the Latter-day Saints have occasion to
thank God and take courage; we have reason to rejoice and praise the
Lord in all these matters, for whatever our enemies do, He makes it
return that, like a boomerang that is thrown out, it comes back and
strikes the person that hurled it.

Well, then, my brethren and sisters, seeing that this is the
way that these matters all move, the way they all operate, should it
not inspire in us the most profound gratitude toward God for these
manifestations of his mercy, goodness and blessing unto us. He has
made our fields to abound with plenty. He has favored us with
blessings innumerable and incomprehensible. We have a peace, a joy and
a satisfaction at heart which those men who make these desperate laws
cannot contemplate. We rejoice in the blessings that heaven is
bestowing upon us. Is it not, then, our bounden duty to testify to
God, the angels, and those that attend upon the covenant people of
God, that we are determined to love Him more and serve Him better? I
was pleased to hear the remark made by one of my brethren yesterday,
that he felt on returning here, after an absence of five or six years,
that there was an improvement in the spirit and feelings of the
people. This is very manifest to those who observe and notice it. But
we think there should be a very much greater improvement. Many of us
have been very careless of some of the commandments; words of wisdom
which the Lord has seen fit to give to us. We have not used that care,
that caution, and that sound discretion in our daily lives before Him,
which it is becoming we should do. I propose, brethren and sisters, in
view of this matter, that we take these things to heart, and see if we
can and ought to draw nearer to God, while He is willing to draw
nearer to us, and thus more fully sense His blessings, His mercies,
and His loving kindness unto us.

This institution—which President Taylor so beautifully reviewed
yes-terday morning in the Assembly Hall, noticing the varied
authorities of the Church and their multifarious duties—sets forth to
every discerning mind, that the order of God's government presupposes
and contemplates the strongest possible form of government that has
ever been known on the earth. Men have come here in years past, and in
speaking of President Young, they have said that he had a strong
government here in Utah; and later on, in speaking of President
Taylor, that he had a strong government in Utah, and also that men
coming here from abroad to govern the people, simply governed the
outsiders, and that the President of the Church governed the
Latter-day Saints. This is the way the ungodly speak about it.
Latter-day Saints know that the order of God's Church is the perfect
order. They know that it is the one intended to give a people strength
in the earth, and that strength is in their righteousness, in their
virtue, in their purity; and in their union and fellowship with the
Spirit, with each other, and with the heavens.

These principles are very dear and very glorious, and we ought to
rejoice above all men in the earth. We may look to the east, to the
west, to the north and to the south, and we see all governments, all
peoples, all nations, all kindreds and tongues stirred up with an
activity, a spirit of strife and ambition for superiority, and we see
that there is continual commotion among them in their political
affairs and in their civil relations. There are a great many
disturbances continually going on, and many of the nations are really
on the verge of bankruptcy through the vast debts created to maintain
their numerous armies, even in the time of peace; while
here
among this people, though our liberties are menaced and threatened,
and our peace would be sometimes disturbed if we would allow it, yet
by the blessing of God we enjoy peace in our hearts, such peace as the
wicked cannot give to us nor take from us. The voice of Him that spake
to the waves of Gennesaret, and commanded them to be still, speaks to
us, and while dark clouds and the thunderings and lightnings roll over
the political horizon, yet in the hearts, in the homes and in the
habitations of the just there is peace, such as the wicked know not
of, and it bespeaks the truth of the revelation which says that not
long hence the people of Zion shall be the only people that will not
be at war among themselves, and that the day will be when they who
will not take up the sword against their neighbor, will have to flee
to Zion, of which this is the embryo.

Look abroad and see what the Lord is doing in the way of judgments.
There has scarcely been a year for many years past when they have
seemed to be so terrible as they have been during this present year,
so far. Think of one portion of the world where islands of the sea
have been sunk, and 100,000 people reported destroyed by earthquake
and volcanic eruptions. And another where it is said some 15,000 or
20,000 were likewise destroyed. Think of it! And yet the Lord has
preserved us in these mountains—in this region of country that might
scientifically be called one of the most volcanic portions of the
whole earth. The very face of the earth tells us its character by its
extinct volcanoes, its silent craters, and numerous hot springs. Look
at the strata of the earth's crust in these canyons, and see its
nature. Also the Lord has manifested His judgments by cyclones, etc.
The words of the Prophet Joseph have been and are being verified,
those words he uttered before he went to Carthage. Said he: “I call
for the four winds of heaven, the thunderings, lightnings,
earthquakes, whirlwinds, the hailstorms, pestilence, and the raging
seas to come forth out of their hiding places and bear testimony of
the truth of those things which I have taught to the inhabitants of
the earth as is promised in the revelations that have been given.”
These were some of his last words among the people. And what have we
seen? Scarcely a week last summer without a cyclone or hurricane
happening somewhere in the States, destroying towns and villages, or
parts thereof.

We live in times, if we only considered the matter and looked upon it
as we should do, that should cause us to draw near unto the Lord and
to live up to every word that proceedeth from His mouth.

I wish to bear testimony that this Gospel and this order of government
which I have been alluding to, is that which brings down the blessings
of Heaven upon this people. Besides peace and good order, it brings
the gifts and blessings of the Gospel, the gift of healing to those
who are afflicted and wounded, and who are walking upon the borders of
the grave; such are restored and healed by its divine power exercised
in the prayers and faith of the Saints.

The fact of the matter is, those things which are held out as menaces
to us are the things that preserve us from the hands of the wicked,
and keep us from forgetting God, in the time of prosperity. It is one
of the greatest blessings to us
that we are kept continually
on the alert, diligently seeking after Him, putting our trust in Him,
and then to find how successfully and perfectly He leads us to triumph
over our enemies, and makes the mischief they would bring upon us
recoil upon their own heads. Saints find it good to trust in Him.

The great work that is now upon us—to build temples and to labor in
them, calls upon us to perform our duties faithfully; calls upon
Presidents of Stakes and Bishops of Wards that they look well among
their peoples and see if they are not taking upon themselves the
responsibilities of other people's sins. Presidents, High Councilors
and Bishops should seek diligently the Spirit of the Lord, to know how
to deal with and decide between the righteous and the wicked; to know
how to pull up the tares without pulling up a great number of the
roots of the wheat. When a man has given himself up to be a drunkard,
to dishonor the cause of God, and to be picked up in the streets, and
to become a reproach, until people say, “that is one of your Mormons,”
it is time the Bishops or Elders, or those whose duty it is, were
looking after him to see that this evil is put away, and to see that
his wife, who may be the deepest mourner over this whole matter, and
his children, clothed in sorrow over his conduct—to see that they are
cherished and sustained and preserved, lest while pulling up the tares
you pull up the wheat also. It requires the skill and wisdom of the
Holy Spirit in all of these things to know how to deal in the right
way, to save those that can be saved, while those who will not work
righteousness, may be known as transgressors, and that we may no
longer carry them upon our faith, and become partakers of their sins.

In the late organization of 1877, a score of Stakes were organized, a
great many more Wards were instituted, many men were called and
ordained to be Bishops in the Church who had never given their
attention to consider carefully the duties of the bishopric. In view
of the responsibilities of this calling—it may not be thought strange,
that some brethren holding this high and holy office are so afraid
that they would do wrong, that they even dare not do right! Now, this
is true whether you believe it or not. A great many men hold these
important offices who are so timid and so fearful lest they should do
wrong, that they are slow and backward in doing the thing which is
right. Now, what is it that makes a man useful and strong in his
calling and labors? Is it not his constant labor, and the diligent,
actual performance of his duties? What is it that makes the
blacksmith's right arm stronger than any other man's? It is because he
is all the time using it, and in this way his arm acquires that
practice which gives it the greatest attainable strength. If the
brethren standing in these responsible places, whether they be
Presidents of Stakes or Bishops of Wards, see anything wrong in their
Wards, it is their duty to get after it. And it is notably the duty
of a teacher to be conversant with the people, and to see that there
is no iniquity in the Church. Instead of hardness of feeling or
division of sentiment, or mischief of any kind being allowed to exist
in your Stake, until it produces party strife, and people take sides
with one and sides with another, it is far better to get after the
mischief at once, find out where it is, root it out, and set matters
right before the peace of families, of neighborhoods, and perhaps
of the Ward is disturbed. I wish the brethren in authority
would heed this matter and wake up to their duties, and not act merely
as figureheads, but more like men of God clothed with authority and
power. When men standing in such responsible positions are so backward
in their duties, they don't know the power of God, nor the spirit of
their callings; but the moment they step forward and take hold with a
prayerful heart, coming from their closets, clothed with the Spirit of
God, they find they have the power to make peace and restore union,
fellowship and love in the midst of the people, and the people love
and bless them in return. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall
be called the children of God.

We need a great deal of missionary service at home. We need a deal of
labor in all the spheres of life—in the families, in the Wards, and in
the Stakes of Zion, which are organized and are being built up in the
Church in these latter times. The work is constantly spreading. Stakes
are being organized in different parts of the country, and the work of
God is prospering. Our enemies “can do nothing against the truth, but
rather for the truth;” for God will sanctify their evil designs and
their wicked and ungodly purposes, to bring to pass His ends and to
magnify His name and to honor Him in the earth.

Let us humble ourselves before the Lord, let us keep His commandments
and teach our children so to do. Let us teach them the principles of
purity and righteousness, so that they may go to the house of the Lord
pure as they were born, free from sin, and while there to enter into
covenants with God that shall abide and stand while time shall last
and eternity en-dure; that they may live, grow and increase, as Abraham
grew and increased, become as the stars of heaven, and as the sand
which is upon the seashore for multitude. For the blessings of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, have come down upon us. And they that are
the children of Abraham will do the works of Abraham. Let us not
forget it; that they that would inherit the blessings of Abraham, must
do the works of Abraham, to entitle them to these blessings.

Let us draw near to the Lord with our households, and strengthen
ourselves in the truth. “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is
a reproach to any people.”

We ought to be more careful concerning the observance of the Sabbath.
We talk of the great things of the laws of God, such as adultery, and
those greater crimes, and murder, which are less frequently committed,
but which are most terrible in their effects upon those who do, and
are terrible also in their effects upon those who are surrounded and
are connected therewith; but let us attend also to the Sabbath, to
keep it holy, and go to our meeting and be more dutiful in that
respect, and not go to the canyons, or hunt stock, and attend to a
multitude of things, which otherwise might be avoided. Let us avoid if
we are going a journey, starting on a Sunday, “just to save one day
more for business.” Let us undertake no manner of business on that
day. Let us reverence the Sabbath as God has commanded us in the
revelations of the last days. It is one of the ten commandments. “Six
days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the
sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work,” etc.
The Lord has been particular.
He is going to be particular
again. We have been in circumstances where we were rudely dealt with.
We have had to travel over the plains; but even there we reverenced
the Sabbath. We stopped our teams and let the cattle rest, and
attended to our duties. Now we have come into a country where we have
hardly had to buy land save at a nominal Government figure. Here we
found a new world—a place in which we could make a living; and cannot
we afford to take time to serve the Lord? To rest our bodies and
refresh our spirits by a study of His holy word, increasing our faith
also?

Another thing, we ought not to run after doctors as much as we do.
“But,” says one, “if we have a bone broken we must have somebody to
set it.” Yes, that is true, but we need not take all the nostrums they
can think of. We ought first to go to the Lord and exercise our faith
as far as we can make use of it in that direction, and we will make
fewer blunders than we do in placing implicit confidence in the
medical and surgical professions. When we do this we are certainly
sure of one thing—we secure the help of God, and the help of angels;
and if we are appointed unto death, we want to go. We ought to want to
go. Our prayers and supplications should be always conditional—that
is, if not appointed unto death that he or she should be raised up.
And if the heavens want a man to labor there in any sphere, there is
where he should be. If a man is wanted to be on a mission in Europe,
in Germany, or in the States, and he stays at home, he is not where he
ought to be. He ought to be where God would have him; there the Holy
Spirit will labor with him and help him. But for us to importune the
Lord to heal those whom He has appointed unto death is just like
asking—as we do once in a while—a man to go on a mission, and we get a
long petition saying that he is such a blessed dear good man, or he
has been such a good schoolmaster, “Do, pray, President let him
stop.” Now, when the Presidency want a man to go on a mission, he
ought to go. It is best for that man that he should go. It is best for
all concerned that he should go to the place he is sent and labor with
all his heart. Just so with us. Here we are on a mission in the world.
The matter of death is a very small matter. It is a matter of life or
death to be sure; but if the Lord does not want us here, and we are
taken away, His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

I do not wish to occupy more time, for fear of infringing upon the
rights of others.

I pray the Lord to still bless Israel, to bless us with humility, and
with faithfulness in the keeping of His commandments; then we shall
see more and grander things accomplished on His part, just in
proportion to the faithfulness with which we perform the duties
devolving upon us. May the Lord help us to do this; and to walk in the
way of life, in the name of Jesus. Amen.